Ratio controller



Feb. 10, 1942. w. H. vo'r RATIQ CONTROLLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1- Filed May 27, 1941 IN VENTOR.

DEAERATING TANK i MLLIAMH V062 Feb. 10, 1942. w. H. voGT 2,272,256

RATIO CONTROLLER Filed May 27, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR.

WILLIAM H. V061 Feb. 10, 1942. w, VQGT RATIO CONTROLLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filgd May 27, 1941 INVENTOR. WILLIAM H V062 Feb. 10, 1942. w. H. VOGT 2,272,256

RATIO CONTROLLER I Filed May 27, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM H V062" Patented Feb. 10, 1942 RATIO CONTROLLER.

William H. Vogt, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Taylor Instrument Companies, Rochester,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 27, 1941, Serial No. 395,427

7 Claims.

This invention relates to controllers and more particularly to ratio controllers.

In many control installations it is desirable to control one variable in a given ratio with respect to a related variable. For example, in a deaerating system it may be desirable to control the rate of deaeration by maintaining a given ratio between the temperature of the liquid introduced into the deaerater and the temperature of the deaerated liquid.

Likewise, in the control of room heating it is frequently desirable to maintain the room temperature at a higher value when the weather is cold than when it is warm. In this instance, the outside temperature serves to adjust the set point of the controller which governs the inside temperature. However, in this arrangement the controlling system will be of the inverse ratio type,

that is, when the outside temperature drops. the

control point for the inside temperature will be raised and vice versa.

Similar requirements for ratio controllers are encountered in maintaining pressures, liquid level or flow of a controlled medium according to a predetermined ratio.

The present invention has for its purpose a ratio controller which is relatively simple in construction, which is readily adjusted, and which can be changed from direct to inverse ratio operation merely by the rotation of a part, in other Words, without disassembling any part of theequipment.

The various features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description and claims when taken with the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the ratio controller of the present invention installed in a deaerating system, the instrument unit proper being represented within the broken line rectangle U; Fig. 2 is a front view of the instrument mechanismillustrated within the rectangle U; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front View of the baffie and nozzle controlling couple thereof; Fig. 4 is a top view of the unit as illustrated in Fig, 1 with certain portions broken away for clearness in disclosure; Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a instrument is adjusted for direct ratio operation; Fig. 9a is a line diagram of the linkage of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line H--! l of Fig. 2; Fig, 12is a perspective view of the differential lever; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary lustrated as incorporated in a temperature controlling system, such as a deaerating system. In such a deaerating system the liquid to be deaerated flows through a pipe 5 into the top portion of the deaerating tank 6 where it is discharged as a spray. The top portion of the deaerating tank 6 is partially evacuated thru the pipe I which is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown). In the installation of the invention as shown, the controlling, thermosensitive tube system including the bulb B, the capillary 9 and the Bourdon, spring it together with other mechanism, maintains the temperature within the deaerating tank at a given set point, to control the degree of vacuum therein and, therefore, the rate of d-eaeration, the bulb being placed in a position to be afiected by a film or sheet of the liquid after it has been deaerated. The Bourdon spring Ill through the link ll varies the spaced relation between a baffle l2 and a nozzle l3 (Fig. 3) of the controller mechanism within the dotted rectangle U of Fig. .1, compress-ed air being supplied through conduit M, restriction R and nozzle pipe Hi to the nozzle. When in the course of the operation of the controller, the baiile i2 approaches the nozzle l3, the pressure in the nozzle pipe 'will increase, causing the capsular chamber In accordance with the present invention, an

adjusting thermosensitive tube system including the bulb l8 communicating thru a capillary tube with Bourdon spring I9, actuates adjusting mechanism, within rectangle U, to be described. This mechanism automatically adjusts the control or set point of the controlling system to maintain a given ratio between the temperatures at the bulbs 8 and Hi. The bulb iii of the adjusting tube system is introduced into the stream..

of untreated liquid flowing through the pipe 5 so that a change in temperature of this liquid is effective to change automatically the control point of the controller. In this way the controller will have its set-point automatically ad- Justed in a given ratio to another variable, in this instance the temperature of the untreated liquid at the bulb 18.

The actuating mechanism of the controller as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 13a, includes a unit U adapted to be mounted on the inner rear wall of an instrument case (not shown) This unit includes a frame comprising triangular plates 2o, 2!, 22 and 23, with the plates 2! and 22 secured in face-to-face contact and with the plates 20 and 23 secured in spaced relation with respect thereto by means including suitable pedestals 2t and 25. A U+shaped pen arm yoke 28 of a controlling system has its arm 28a rotatably mounted on a. pivot pin 23 projecting from the front of the plate 20, while the arm 28b of this yoke is mounted on the pivot pin 30 projecting from the front of the plate 21, the arbors 23 and 30 preferably being arranged coaxially (Figs, 4 and As best illustrated in Fig. 11, the arbor 23 is screwed into that end of a hub 23a which is staked into an opening in the plate 23 while arbor 30 is screwed directly into the plate 2|. The arm 28b as best illustrated in Fig, 4, is made with extensions 2%?) and 282212 radiating from the arbor 30. These extensions are provided with pins 3! and retaining clips 32 to receive the upper end of the previously mentioned connecting link II. It will be understood that the connecting link I i will be detachably connected either to the extension 2817b or 2Bbb,'depending on the type of operation that is desired, that is, direct or reverse operation. The lower end of the link I l is pivotally connected to the free end of the Bourdon spring in forming a part of the controlling tube system previously referred to.

The arm 28a of the pen arm bracket has secured thereto a pen arm 35, the free end of which terminates in a stylus adapted to mark on a chart C. This chart is rotated in accordance with the passage of time by a suitable clock 36.

From the hub 29a, mounted on the rear surface .of the plate 20-, there projects the pivot screw 27 on which there is rotatably mounted in faceto-face relation, a disc 31 and a gear 33. The disc 31 and the gear 38 are normally latched together to rotate as a unit in order to change the set point of the controlling system, but can be unlatched from each other to change the controlling system from direct to reverse operation and vice versa as is fully disclosed in the copending application of Tate, Vogt and Clarridge, Serial No. 349,024, filed July 31, 1940. The gear 33 is rotated by means of a pinion 39 formed on a stub shaft 34 which is rotatably mounted in the plates 20, 21 and 22. The front end of this stub shaft is slotted so that it can be en-- gaged by a screw driver to rotate the shaft and through its pinion 39, eiiect rotation of the gear 38. On the rear surface of the gear 38 there is pivotally mounted at 40, a baffle arm 4!. This baille arm carries a cylindrical bafile i2 adapted to cooperate with the nozzle is mounted on the free end of nozzle pipe l5. It will be understood that the baffle arm is pivotall mounted eccentrically of the axis of the gear 38 so that the cylindrical bafile 52 can swing in an are which intersects the mentioned axis. The free end ofthe arm 4| is provided with a flang 45, which in the adjustment of the instrument as shown in differential Fig. 4, is adapted to be engaged by a pin 45a projecting from the front of a T-shaped lever 4? (Fig. 8) The lever 41 as illustrated in Fig. 11 is pivoted at an intermediate point. thereof on the arbor 30. The left end of the arm 41 is like wise provided with a forwardly projecting pin #61) which is adapted to cooperate with the flange 45 on the bafile arm 4| when the instrument is adjusted for reverse operation.

The arm 28'!) of the pen arm yoke 23 is provided with a forwardly projecting pin 48 on which the upper end of a differential lever 49 is pivotally mounted. The lever 49 (Figs. 5, 7 and 12) has a slot 49a therein to receive a pin 9i carried on the vertical extension of the T-shaped lever 41.

Let it be assumed that the lower end of the differential lever 49 is held stationary, which is the situation that prevails when the condition at bulb l8 of the adjusting system remains unchanged, then on a temperatur change at the bulb 8 of the controlling system, the following control action will be effected. For example, on a temperature rise, the Bourdon spring in will unwind. This will pull the link II downward, and since it is connected to the extension 28bb' of the pen arm yoke 28, it will rock this oke in a clockwise direction. In the course of the movement of this pen arm yoke, the pin 48 carried thereby, will swing the upper end of the differential lever 49 in a clockwise direction. As this lever swings, the pin 31 carried on the T-shaped lever 41 will move upward in the slot 49a of the lever 49. This will rock the T-shaped lever counterclockwise so that the pin 46d, projecting from the front thereof, will lift the flange 45 of the bafile'lever'dl. The upward .movement of the bafie lever raises the baflie l2 away from the nozzle Id. The pressure in the nozzle pipe l5 will drop and the capsular dlaphragm IE (Fig. 1) will tend to contract. This will permit compressed air to be applied through the pilot relay valve RV to the top of the motor diaphragm valve V. This motor diaphragm valve will open to allow a greater amount or controlling medium to pass. The reverse of these operations will take place on a drop in temperature at bulb ii.

The portion of the unit just described, functions as an ordinary controller. In accordance with the present invention, the unit is provided with mechanism which automatically adjusts the set point thereof in a predetermined ratio with respect to a second variable. This mechanism includes a second or adjusting pen arm yoke 58 or" U-shaped construction. The arms 5| and 52 of this yoke are respectively mounted on the arbors 29 and 53, these arbors being coaxially arranged with respect to the pivotal support of the pen arm yoke 28. The arm 51 of yoke 50 is spaced from arm 23a of yoke 28 by means of sleeve 51. The arm 52 of the yoke is provided with extensions 52?) and 5222b, to either of which the upper end of the link 54 may be pivotally attached by means of any one of the pins 55 and the spring retaining clips 53. The lower end of the link. 54 is pivotally connected to the free end of the Bourdon spring Iii of the adjusting tube system.

The arm 5! of the pen arm yoke 50 has secured thereto a pen arm 6i, the free end of which terminates in a stylus to mark on the chart C. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the pen arm BI is superimposed over the pen arm 35 but it will be understood that these pen arms have independent movement in accordance with the responses of their respective tube systems. The extension 5611 secured to the yoke arm 50 has fixed on the free end thereof, a rearwardl extending rod 62, best shown in Fig. 4; The free end of the rod 62 has pivotally mounted thereon one end of a link 63 (Figs. 2, 9, 10 and 13). The other end of the link 63 is pivoted on a pin 64 carried on one end of a second link 65. Link 65 at its other end carries a pin 85 on which the lower end of the differential lever 49 is pivoted. The pivot pin 64 has pivotally mounted thereon one end of a third link 66, the remaining end of which is pivoted at 61 to one end of link 68. It should be noted that as herein shown, links 65 and 66 as wellas arm 68 are of equal effective lengths. The other end of arm 68 is secured to a segment gear 69 which is rotatably mounted on an angularly adjustable bracket 10 near the free end thereof. The remaining end of the bracket I is secured to a gear N. This gear is rotatably mounted on a pivot screw 12 (Fi 11) whichis screwed into a hub 13 staked in an opening in'the supporting plate 22. This pivot screw 12 is also coaxially mounted with the arbors 29, 3B and 53. The gear "H is rotated by a. pinion It formed on the shaft 11 which is rotatably supported in the plates 26, 2| and 22 (Fig. 4). The front end of the shaft 11 (Fig. 2)

is provided with a, kerf to receive an adjusting screw driver. When this shaft is rotated, it rotates the pinion 16 which in turn rotates the gear ll. Gear II on rotation changes the angular position of the bracket In thereby squar- This squaring" of the linking" the linkage. age, that is, bring the links 63 and 64 into generally right angular relation in the midportion of the expected operating range of the linkage for a given installation, afiords a more nearly linear and therefore a more accurate ratio control relation.

In accordance with the present invention, the device can be changed from direct ratio operation as shown in Figs. 9 and to inverse ratio operation as shown in Fig. 13 merely by a simple rotary adjustment. This adjustment mechanism comprises a pinion 80 (Figs. 2, 4 and 6) fixed to a pivot screw 8| rotatably supported on an extension 82 of bracket 10 in-a position to mesh with the segment gear 69.

The pinion 80 carries a graduated disc 13 with der this condition with-the controlling system set for direct ratio control, the operation will be as follows:

Let it be assumed that there is a temperature increase at the bulb l8 of the adjusting system. This will swing the arm 50a in a clockwise direction and will move the pin 62 upward in a path represented by the dotted arc A (Fig. 9a). The link 63 will be moved upward and the pivot 64 at the lower end of this link will travel upward in the arc B, the movement of this pivot in this arc being controlled by the link 66 which swings about the pivot 61 as a center. As the pivot 64 moves upward in the arc B, it will draw the link 65 toward the left with the result that the pivot 85 at the lower end of the differential lever will swing in an are C. It will be noted that this are C has its center at the point 48 (now assumed to be stationary) and that in this instance, the differential lever moves clockwise. This results in the baffle 12 approaching the nozzle I3 to effect the controlling operation, as previously described.

A drop in temperature effects a similar operation but in the reverse sense, of the parts just described, that is, on a drop in temperature at bulb IS the differential lever 49 will move counterclockwise to raise the baffle fromthe nozzle.

It should be pointed out that, when the pivot pin 61 is adjusted as far as possible from the pivot pin 85, the largest ratio effect is obtained, but as the pivot pin 6'! approaches the ivot pin 85 this ratio is reduced until it becomes zero,

when the pivot pins'61 and 85 are in coaxial relarespect to a reference mark 83 marked on the extension 82. The pivot screw 8| has a kerf 84 therein to receive a screw driver by which the pinion carried thereby and meshing with the segment gear, can continuously be adjusted from Dir (direct ratio) 3-21-0 through 0-l23 Inv (inverse ratio). The adjustment of the segment gear in this manner rotates the-arm 68 s to change the position of the pivot 61.

The term ratio as herein-employed refers to the relation between the movement of the controlling pen arm 35 to the movement of adjusting pen In describing the operation of the controlling portion of the instrument, it was assumed that the adjusting portion of the instrument was stationary and consequently the pivot 85 constitut- 7 ing the mounting for the lower end of the dinerential lever 49, was stationary. In describing the operation of the automatic adjusting portion of theinstrument. it will be assumed that the controlling system is temporarily stationary, with the result that the pivot 48 for. the upper end of v the differential lever 49 will be stationary. Un-

tion. When these pivot pins are thus coaxially' arranged, any change in temperature at the adjusting bulb l8, although it operatesthe arms 50a and 660, will cause no movement of the lower end of the differential lever 49 and consequently there will be no adjusting effect on the control portion of the instrument.

In the event that the instrument is adjusted for inverse ratio operation, as shown in Figs. 13 and 130, the operation of the adjusting portion of the instrument will be as follows under the conditions assumed above, that is, when the controlling system maintains the pivot point 48 stationary. Under this condition, if there is a temperature increase at the bulb Hi, the arm 500. will swing terclockwise and will raise the bafile away from the nozzle. A drop in temperature at the bulb l8 will effect similar operation of the mentioned parts, but in the reverse sense from that just described. I

When the baffle I2 approaches the nozzle l3 under conditions just described, the pressure in nozzle'pipe l5 and the chamber l6 builds up. Chamber l6 therefore expands, tending to close relay valveRV, which tends to cut off the compressed air from the diaphragm motor of valve V. Valve V opens accordingly to increase the degree of vacuum in the deaerating chamber 6. With the increased vacuum in this chamber, the rate of evaporation therein will be increased causing a drop in temperature at bulb 8. The thermosensitive tube system including the bulb 8 and the Bourdon spring l0 operate thru the link II and conditions for effecting of said differential. lever, mechanism includng differential lever 49. This differential lever 09 operates the T-shaped 41 to move the baffle away from the nozzle to control the'relay valve RV to throttle the compressed air applied to the dia phragm top of motor valve V.

What I claim is:

1. In a control apparatus, a control member movable to different positions in accordance with a resultant effect caused jointly by variations in two different conditions, mechanism including a lever for operating said member, means responsive to variations in one of said conditions for effecting a movement of said lever, mechanism including an adjustable ratio linkage operated in response to variations in the second condition for moving said lever. said adjustable ratio linkage including a first link having one end mounted to swing on a fixed pivot inresponse to said lastmentioned variations, asecond link having one end pivotally connected to said lever, a third link pivotally connecting the remaining ends of said first and second links. said links together with a portion of said lever generally approximating the form of a quadrilateral, a fourth link having one end pivotally connected to the pivotal connection between said second and third links, and 9. nor mally fixed pivot adjustable to any one of a plurality of positions located in the arc of a circle intersecting the locus of the pivotal connection of said lever with said second link, the remaining end of said fourth link being rotatable on said fixed pivot.

2. In a control apparatus. a control member movable to different positions in accordance with a resultant effect caused jointly by variations in two different conditions, mechanism including a differential lever for operating said member, means responsive to variations in one of said conditions for effecting a movement of one end of said differential lever, mechanism including an adjustable ratio linkage operated in response to variations in the second condition for moving the remaining end of said differential lever, said adjustable ratio linkage including a first link having one end mounted to swing on a fixed pivot in response to said last-mentioned variations, a second link having one end pivotally connected to the remaining end of said differential lever, a third link pivotally connecting the remaining ends of said first and second links, a fourth link having one end pivotally connected to the pivotal connection between said second and third links, anda normally fixed pivot adjustable to any one of a plurality of positions located in the arc of a circle intersecting the locus of the remaining end of said differential lever, the rema ning end of said fourth link being rotatable on said fixed pivot.

3. In a control apparatus, a control member movable to different positions in accordance with a resultant effect caused jointly by variations in two different conditions, mechanism including a differential lever for operating said member,

means responsive to variations in one of said a movement of one end an adjustable ratio linkage operated in response :to variations in the second condition for moving the other end of said d fferential lever, saidadjustable ratio linkage including a first link having one endmounted to swing ,on a fixed pivot in response to said last-mentioned variatiwns, a

second link having one end pivotally connected to said differential lever, a third link ,pivotally of registry with remaining end of said fourth two different conditions, mechanism including a differential lever for operating said member, means responsive to variations in one of said conditions for effecting a movement of one end of said differential lever, mechanism including an adjustable ratio linkage operated in response to variations in the second condition for moving the other end of said differential lever, said adjustable ratio linkage including a first link having one end mounted to swing on a fixed pivot in response to said last-mentioned variations, a second link having one end pivotally connected to said difi'erential lever, a third link pivotally connecting the remaining ends of said first and second links, a fourth link having one end pivotally connected to the pivotal connection between said second and third links, and a normally fixed pivot adjustable to any one of a plurality of positions located in the arc of a circle, the link being rotatable on said fixed pivot, all of aid links having the same effective lengths.

5. In a control apparatus, a control member movable to different positions in accordance with a resultant effect caused jointly by variation in two different conditions, mechanism including a differential lever for operating said member, means responsive'to variations in one of said conditions for effecting a movement of one end of said differential lever, mechanism including an adjustable ratio linkage operated in response to variations in the second condition for moving the remaining end of said differential lever, said adjustable ratio linkage including a first link having one end mounted to swing on a fixed pivot in response to said last-mentioned variations, a second link having one end pivotally connected to said remaining end of said differential lever, a third link pivotally connecting the remaining ends of said first and second links, said links together with a portion of said lever generally approximating the form of a quadrilateral, a fourth link having one end pivotally connected to the pivotal connection between said second and third links, and a normally fixed pivot adjustable to any one of a plurality of positions located in the arc ofa circle intersecting the locus of the remaining end of said differential lever, said are extending from a point in registry with a point with the area of said quadrilateral to a point out any part of said area, the remaining end of said fourth link being rotatable on said fixed pivot.

6. In a control apparatus, a control member movable to different remaining end of said differential lever, said adjustable ratio linkage including a first link having one end mounted to swing on a fixed pivot in response to said last-mentioned variations, a second link having one end pivotally connected to said difierential lever, a third link pivotally connecting the remaining ends of said first and second links, a fourth link having one end pivotally connected to the pivotal connection between said second and third links, a fifth link having one end pivotally connected to the remaining end of to variations in the second condition for moving the remaining end of said difierential lever, said adjustable ratio linkage including a first link having one end mounted to swing on a fixed pivot in response to said last-mentioned variations, a

second link having one end pivotally connected to the remaining end of said diiferential lever, a third link pivotally connecting the remaining ends of said first and second links, said links tosaid fourth link, and a fixed pin upon which the other end of said fifth lever is pivoted, said second, fourth and fifth links having the same effective lengths.

7. In a control apparatus, a control member movable to different positions in accordance with a resultant effect caused jointly by variations in two clifierent conditions, mechanism including a dififerential lever for operating said member, means responsive to variations in one of said conditions for efiecting a movement of one end or said difierential lever, mechanism including an adjustable ratio linkage operated in response gether with a portion of said lever generally approximating the form of a quadrilateral, a fourth link having one end pivotally connected to the pivotal connection between said second and third links, a fifth link having one end pivotally connected to the remaining end of said fourth link, and a fixed pin upon which the other end of said fifth lever is pivoted, the first-mentioned end of said fourth link being movable in an are intersecting the locus of said fixed pin and the remaining end or said fourth link being movable in an arc intersecting the locus or the remaining end of saiddifierential lever.

WHLIAM H. voo'r. 

